Broker Tour Insider Notes

As a memory aid for myself and as a resource for clients, I'm keeping notes on properties I visit. Click on the address or photo to read more about any particular property. Click here to read my blog post on the importance of broker tours.

My notes:
Very close to the Lawrence School playground, which you can see from the unit. This unit is on an unpaved driveway/spur off of Longwood Ave, so there is some separation from the traffic on that busy road. There is in-unit laundry, a deck off the back, storage in the basement, and a parking spot right in front. Wall air conditioner.
Load official description

My notes:
This is a first floor unit, but is slightly elevated above street level (a "high first floor"). Laundry is in the building next door, which is part of the same complex. Low owner occupancy here, with 6 out of 30 owner occupied. Great location by Coolidge Corner. Lovely unit.
Load official description

My notes:
Recently renovated studio in an elevator building. The condo association is taking a loan from Brookline Bank for up to $500,000 to undertake many repairs including boiler replacement, roof replacement, elevator replacement, and front atrium and awning. Their plan is to pay off the loan over 9 years, and essentially each unit will have some amount added to their monthly condo fee for their share of the loan. (Unit owners also have the option to pay their share upfront instead). If you are potentially interested in a unit in this building, make sure to review the documents in detail to understand what this would mean for you.
Load official description

My notes:
On Claflin Path (near Claflin Road but different), on Aspinwall Hill near Washington Square. This is being sold "as is", and could be a good fit for someone looking for a renovation project. The kitchen, bathroom, and windows are older. The unit is one floor up. There is additional space in the attic, and a garage spot is included as well.
Load official description

My notes:
This unit attracted strong interest and garnered 23 offers following the open houses. Large lockable storage closet in the basement. The association of 18 units has 10 parking spaces for rent at $75/month, and currently three units on the waitlist for one of the spots. They said that while waiting for a spot, you could rent nearby for $150-200 month. 2 of the bedrooms are smaller. Bathroom and kitchen are more recent.
Load official description

My notes:
Great location just off Beacon St near Coolidge Corner. This is an end unit, with windows on three sides, so lots of light. The association of 18 units has 10 parking spaces for rent at $75/month, and currently three units on the waitlist for one of the spots. They said that while waiting for a spot, you could rent nearby for $150-200 month. Unusual angles in some of the rooms.
Load official description

My notes:
This is a duplex on the top floor of a managed condominium building. The unit has roof access, with views of the Boston skyline. It is heated and cooled with an electric heat pump, which in some cases is great and can be very efficient, and in others can be noisy and expensive. The description says there are new insulated windows and sliding door, which can help conserve energy. Out of curiosity, I called Eversource (800-592-2000) to get the historical electricity usage for this unit. They told me that in 2014 they used ~2000 kilowatts/month, which reduced to ~1700 kw/month in 2015, and ~1000 kw/month this year. (That reduction could be consistent with new windows, and/or with a milder winter, and/or with people not being home.) Their 12-month average bill is $216, the high was $357, and the low was $140.
Load official description

My notes:
On Eagle Hill in East Boston, close to the Maverick T stop on the blue line, this unit has views of the Boston skyline over the harbor. The whole house was rehabbed and transformed into four condos in 2011, and as a result the unit feels modern and up to date. It includes parking, and has a back patio area. Due to the slope of the hill, one side of this unit is above grade and the other side is partially below grade.
Load official description

My notes:
The outstanding feature of this newly renovated unit is the private roof deck, from which you can see the Hancock and Prudential Towers. The whole building is being transformed from apartments into four condominiums. This unit has a full bath for every bedroom, and a half bath off the living room. The common space is concentrated in one open area on one end, including the kitchen, living room, and dining room areas. Parking is a 2-car tandem space. This unit is three flights up. There is no separate storage area, so this may be a Fuller house.
Load official description

My notes:
Nicely finished kitchen and bathrooms. It's an interesting floor plan, with the living room and dining room on almost opposite ends of the unit, and bedrooms felt modestly sized. Washer/dryer in the kitchen. Rented parking. There is an approximately 8' x 8' storage locker in the basement. With the location so close to Coolidge Corner, it will be interesting to see what happens with this one.
Load official description

My notes:
In a lovely building on Summit Hill. The back windows and deck get a lot of light with their south/south-west exposure. The two-car tandem garage is rather large, and there is also an extra storage space. The unit has an open floor plan with dining room, living room, family room, and an office cluster. The kitchen was designed by a kitchen designer, and you can tell that a lot of thought went into it: there is an appliance garage, quiet close drawers, specially shaped corner drawers to make use of the space, and a wood-paneled refrigerator. The list price ($1.2M) and condo fee ($615/month) are on the higher side, even for luxury 2-bedrooms, which might explain the 40 days on market.
Load official description

My notes:
If you don't mind walking up a few flights of stairs, this is a gorgeous unit with updated kitchen, bathrooms and windows. There is a small bonus room/office behind the kitchen as well, which opens up to the deck.
Load official description

My notes:
Great location and unit. It's one flight up from the street. The parking spot is right in front. The roof deck is shared with units 1 and 3. It includes a good-sized storage space in the basement as well. In addition to the three bedrooms, living room, and dining room, there is also a bonus room/study to round it out.
Load official description

My notes:
One level of stairs up to this unit from the street. On the main level, in addition to the living room, dining room and kitchen, there is also a family/play room with a sun room off of it. That extra family/play room has a closet, and could be pressed into service as an additional bedroom or a guest room if needed. There is a washer/dryer in the closet in the master bedroom, which is in addition to the common washer/dryer in the basement. This unit has a private storage area and another room in the basement as well, which is not counted in the square footage. Close to Washington Square. The deck and roof are described as "older".
Load official description

My notes:
This is off of Corey Road, on the Brookline side. In back there is a yard, a deck, parking, and a separate guest cottage! Inside there were three levels and so many full bathrooms that no one who lives there will ever have an excuse to be late in the morning. The kitchen and bathrooms looked recently and well finished. Lots of light.
Load official description

My notes:
I actually visited this one several weeks ago before it came on market. Lots of space inside, and a nice backyard. On a quiet street off of Harvard St across from the Stop & Shop. Some settling in the house; the stairs had quite a slant. I was informed that this was originally built as a boarding house, which accounts for the many rooms and layout. On the first floor is the kitchen, living room, and dining room. Bedrooms on the second level, and a few more rooms on the third level.
Load official description

My notes:
When I saw this place last fall it reminded me that I should get a tetanus shot. A developer bought it for $555,000 in February, and has undertaken a complete renovation. Work is still ongoing, and it looks great so far. This is a single-family attached home, meaning it has a wall touching ("attached") to another property. The whole block is a series of single-family attached homes. Judging by appearance, perhaps they were all built together as worker housing at some point. By custom, residents on this small private way can each park one car in front of their home. There are two bedrooms on the upper level, and one on the main level.
Load official description

My notes:
Cute single-family tucked into the Jeffries Point neighborhood of Eastie, near the Maverick T stop, and it has a backyard. There is a more recent addition to the back that has a family/tv-room on the first floor and a master bedroom on the second floor. The kitchen has a center island with a deep fryer, steamer, and gas stove; it looks like a mini restaurant kitchen. There are two staircases to the second level: a traditional staircase in the front, and a spiral staircase in back that goes from the family room directly to the master bedroom. There is one bathroom on the second level, in between two of the bedrooms. It's an interesting layout because there is no hallway, so to get to the bathroom from bedroom 1, you need to go through bedroom 2.
Load official description

My notes:
Lovely unit, expect to go quickly. Very bright, lots of light. In a U-shaped complex. In addition to the three bedrooms, there is a bonus room in front that is currently being used as a small office and for the washer and dryer. The stove is electric powered, but apparently gas is available in the unit so the new owner could replace it with a gas stove if they preferred.
Load official description

My notes:
This could be a good project for a developer. The condo association expects some upcoming tile work in the common hallways, and drainage work on the roof, but the condo association does not have a reserve fund. The seller is willing to escrow some (unspecified) amount of money for those expected special assessments. The garden out back and the roof rights belong to unit 3, not to this unit. Hot water, but not heat, are included in the condo fee. There is storage in the basement. This unit, as it says in the official description, is "in need of renovation", and it looks like a big project.
Load official description

My notes:
This one could be interesting for developers or anyone looking for a project: according to the listing agent, this property is actually on three deeds, and the Somerville Planning Commission told him that a 2-family home could be built here, or a gut-rehab to make a larger single family home. The current house there is smaller but seemingly well-maintained single-family on a narrow one-way street off Washington St in East Somerville, and it has a good-sized backyard as well. There is a full bathroom on the first floor, and a small (tiny) half-bath in one of the bedrooms on the second floor. The basement has a low ceiling and a gravel floor with moisture evident; the listing agent said it could be excavated to make a full-sized basement.
Load official description

My notes:
Most of the visitors to this open house seemed to be investors, but this 2-family house might also be good for an owner-occupant. The first-floor apartment has two-bedrooms. The second unit is on the second and third floors, and has four bedrooms. Both units also had both a parlor/dining room and a living room, and the bedrooms seemed to be good sizes. As you'd expect in a longtime rental unit in Allston, the kitchens and bathrooms could be updated, although they seemed to be serviceable as is. There is no parking although the lot is paved. Lots of closets. Laundry in basement.
Load official description

My notes:
A few blocks from Cleveland Circle. Bay window overlooks Beacon St, and has a custom built window bench. Comes with a 10' x 10' storage unit. 2 rental spots could be transferred, pending approval of your application from the parking owner. The current indoor parking rent is $249/month per spot. This unit is one flight of stairs up from street level. Nicely finished unit.
Load official description

My notes:
Great location close to Washington Square. In a 1950's brick building with 14 units. Condo fee includes heat and hot water. This is currently a rental unit, and condition reflects that.
Load official description

My notes:
This unit felt exceptionally well finished. Gleaming cherry colored hardwood floors. Typical floor-through brownstone layout. Instead of a TV in the living room, there is a retractable screen and a projector. (Including the home theater system is negotiable).
Load official description

My notes:
Across from a park (Knyvet Square), and close to Amory Woods Sanctuary. Lovely unit, nicely finished. The $654 condo fee includes heat and hot water. One bedroom is off the entry foyer to the right, the other two are down the hall to the left. Private deck off the kitchen.
Load official description

My notes:
It's rare to have a full front hall in condos, but this one has one. The other rooms radiate off from the front hall. There is a small room in the back which has the washer/dryer, and is also appears to be used now as a home office. There is a small pantry closet in the kitchen behind doors, and the lights go on automatically when you open them. This unit is one flight of stairs up.
Load official description

My notes:
If you want to be on Beacon St in Brookline, but close to Boston, this might be the location for you. Comes with a deeded parking space. There are small retail shops on the ground floor of this building, including a sushi restaurant where I ate lunch. Next to Whole Foods. The unit itself is lovely as well. Bay window overlooks Beacon St.
Load official description

My notes:
The combination of the open floor plan for the kitchen, living/dining room and the winding layout makes it feel spacious. "Gut rebab," nicely finished. Nest thermostat and LED lights. Condo fee includes heat, but not parking. That's $125/month for the assigned spot plus $95/month for an optional second spot. There is a little office alcove off the living room by one of the bedrooms. Looking at the cabinets and bathroom furniture, one gets the sense of being in an Ikea. I would expect this unit to go quickly.
Load official description

Note: Information being provided is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. I fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Information is not guaranteed and should be independently verified.